The Stone Bird Series

Owls

What does the owl signify in Celtic culture? I love owls, I feel they have an unearthly quality. “How the owl was created in Welsh myth: Blodeuwedd (Flower-face) was a woman made from flowers by powerful magicians, to be the wife of the hero Lleu. With her lover she plotted his death & as punishment was turned into the owl forever in the darkness of night.

The owl is a creature that has sharp vision even in the dark, a hunter that is stealthy and quick, and it often acts as a guide to and through the Underworld. Celtic legend has it that the wise owl may bestow insight upon its human companion.

Owls are often seen as symbols of tremendous knowledge and insight, and they may also provide direction. These birds may serve as a warning of a threat that is surmountable, as well as a portent of prosperity or positive change. In certain societies, owls are believed to be divine messengers or even to act as intermediaries between this world and the next.

The owl has a strong place in myth and legend. From Athena to Harry Potter, we still love the mystique and wisdom. Many cultures held the owl in high regard — the goddess of wisdom, Athena, whose sacred bird is the little owl, symbolizing knowledge and vigilance.

What do the three birds of Rhiannon represent?

In Celtic mythology, three magical birds are said to accompany the Goddess Rhiannon. Known as the Birds of Rhiannon, they were known to heal the sick and wounded, awaken the dead, and lull the living to sleep with their sweet song.

Golden Eagles

Once occurred in Wales, and to hear the cries of these usually silent birds were thought to foretell a significant event, like the birth of a great hero. A lone eagle seen on a crag was seen as a sentry, warning of the arrival of an enemy, while a pair was a symbol of peace. The white-tailed eagle is a truly magnificent bird.